CHAPTER VI FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 1. INTRODUCTION

Transcription

1

2 CHAPTER VI FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 1. INTRODUCTION Agriculture and allied activities have been described as the main sources of much of the raw materials, investment capital, foreign exchange and labor needed for the economic growth. In this regard, improving the performance of the agriculture sector is of critical importance for fast development of the country s economy. However, agriculture in Ethiopia is characterized by its low productivity. The reason for this is the use of limited modern agricultural techniques and traditional practices as well as the declining soil fertility due to continuous cropping. Among traditional practices used to increase the crop productivity, the most widely used practice has been and still is maintaining soil fertility through long fallow periods and the use of dung and crop residue. These gradually become impossible due to the prevailing rapid and uncontrolled population growth, which led to the reduction of the fallow lands and fuel wood deficit in the country. The other practice to increase crop production was based on expanding cultivable cropland. However, this scheme has been in practice for a long time and as a result of high population growth in the country most of the highlands suitable for cropping has already been exhausted. To this end, increasing productivity on various field crops is the only realistic option to raise the living standards of the rural population, and to ensure food security and poverty alleviation. There are many modern techniques and technologies of achieving enhanced crop productivity. Accordingly, the major factors behind achieving high level of crop productivity increases are through greater and more efficient use of fertilizers, wide spread uses of improved variety seeds, pesticides, expanded use of irrigation and effective extension services. Thus, during the 2001/02 Agricultural Sample Enumeration, basic data on agricultural inputs and practices were collected, processed and the results are presented in this chapter. In general, this chapter deals with the agricultural census data that indicates the type of inputs applied, quantity of inputs applied, the irrigated cropland area, estimates of cropland

3 area damage, number of holders who applied different agricultural inputs and farm management practices, and number of holders covered by extension package programs in Ethiopia. Data are presented for private holdings in rural areas for both Meher and Belg seasons, and urban areas of holdings for Meher season. For urban areas, data are collected and presented only on the inputs applied and the irrigated cropland area and number of holders who applied farm inputs. Also, data are presented at national and regional levels in Statistical Tables Moreover, Estimates, Standard Errors (S.E.) and Coefficients of Variation (C.V.) are given in Annex Tables 6.1 and 6.2 for some relevant variables. 2. CROPLAND AREA UNDER AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AND FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES This section of the chapter deals with the agricultural inputs applied and the irrigated cropland area for both rural and urban areas at national and regional levels. Agricultural holders in the sampled households were asked whether they have applied or have not agricultural inputs on their fields and the area of all plots operated by the holders were actually measured objectively for private holdings in rural areas. While in urban areas all types of data on farm practices were obtained by interview methods only. This helped to estimate area under crop, irrigated land, fertilizers, pesticides and improved seeds used during the agricultural year. Following data on area under agricultural farm inputs are briefly discussed. The census data show that the country as a whole predominantly produces grain crops that accounted for about 90% of the area cultivated under all crops (Summary Table VI.2). On the other hand, vegetables, root crops and permanent crops are not widely grown as grains in the country in terms of both area coverage and production obtained. As a result, the agricultural inputs were applied to a great extent on the area under grain crops in order to increase the volume of production. In Ethiopia, fertilizers are relatively widely promoted and adequately supplied relative to other agricultural inputs. Therefore, it is found that application of fertilizers had high coverage of area under crops among different types of agricultural inputs that were applied. Moreover, the census data indicate that vast majority of agricultural holders in the country as a whole have used improved seeds, practiced irrigation and applied pesticides but in a much smaller extent.

4 2.1 Fertilized Cropland s Fertilizers refer to anything added to the soil with the intention of increasing the amount of plant nutrients available for crop growth. In the census, data on application, type and quantity of natural and chemical fertilizers were collected. The Natural fertilizers consisted of animal dung and compost while chemical fertilizers consisted of DAP (Di-Ammonium phosphate) and UREA (Ammonium Nitrate). In Ethiopia, fertilizers were applied on 3,817.9 thousand hectares (38.6%) of the total cultivated cropland area. Of this total fertilized cropland area, the share of rural and urban areas was found to be 98.4% and 1.6%, respectively. Moreover, the proportion of total fertilized cropland in rural areas for Meher season was 89.8% as compared to only 8.6% for Belg season. Regarding private holdings in urban areas, data are collected and presented only for Meher season. For details, refer to Summary Table VI.1 and Fig VI.1. Furthermore, out of the total fertilized cropland areas, 80.6% were under cereals, 5.5% under pulses, 1.3% under oil seeds, 4.3% under root crops, 2.4% under stimulant crops and the remaining 5.9% were under other crops. Most of the fertilized cropland areas in the country were allotted to cereals in both rural and urban areas (See Summary Table VI.1) With regard to a specific crop, Teff is the most important fertilized crop that comprised an area of 946 thousand hectares. This is followed by maize and wheat covering 778 thousand hectares and 618 thousand hectares, respectively. The other most important fertilized crop is barley taking up 382 thousand hectares. For details, refer to Summary Table VI.2. The result of the census data at country level indicate that Oromia Region has relatively the highest share from the total cropland areas with application of fertilizers (49.2%). The next highest share was observed in Amhara Region accounted for about 28.0 percent. Moreover, it is also seen that the total cropland areas under fertilizers was 14.7% in S.N.N.P. Region and 6.5% in Tigray Region, while each remaining region constituted less than one percent of the total fertilized cropland area in the country. Furthermore, the application of fertilizers in Meher season constituted relatively higher proportion for all the regions as compared to Belg season. (For details, refer to Summary Table VI.3).

5 SUMMARY TABLE VI.1: Total Under Improved Farm Management Practices by Crop Categories in Rural and Urban s, Both Seasons, for Private Holdings. Grains in Hectares Data Item Total Cereals Pulses Oilseeds Others Vegetables Root Permanent Crops Crops Fruits Stimulant Other Total Rural and Urban Rural Meher Belg * * * Urban (Meher) Improved Seeds Rural and Urban Percent Rural Percent Meher Percent Belg * * * * * Percent * * * * * Urban (Meher) * 174 * Percent * 1.35 * Irrigation Rural and Urban Percent Rural Percent Meher Percent Belg * * * Percent * * * Urban (Meher) Percent Fertilizer Rural and Urban Percent Rural Percent Meher Percent Belg * * * Percent * * * Urban (Meher) Percent Pesticides Rural and Urban Percent Rural Percent Meher Percent Belg * * * * Percent * * * * Urban (Meher) Percent

6 Fig VI.1 under Improved Farm Management Practices in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings in Hectares IMPROVED SEED APPLIED IRRIGATION APPLIED PESTICIDE APPLIED FERTILIZER APPLIED RURAL- MEHER RURAL- BELG URBAN 2.2 Cropland s that are treated with Pesticides Pesticides are chemicals that are used for the control or mitigation or elimination of pests that are detrimental to crops. Examples of pesticides are insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Summary Table VI.1 reveals that the total cropland areas that are treated with pesticides at country level were estimated to be thousand hectares. This indicates that only 8.2% of the total cultivated cropland areas were treated with pesticides. Of the total cropland areas treated with pesticides, the share of rural and urban areas was found to be 96.1% and 3.9%, respectively. Thus, private holdings in rural areas had the highest share, while the contribution of the urban areas to the total pesticide applied cropland area was limited in scale. Moreover, the total pesticides applied cropland areas in rural areas of the country for Meher season was 89.8 percent as compared to only 6.3 percent for the Belg season. Furthermore, most of the pesticide applied land areas in the country were under cereal crops (about 95.4%), whereas only 1.7% of the fields under pulses were treated with pesticides. On the other hand, land areas of the remaining crops treated with pesticides were 2.9%. Out of all cropland areas on which pesticides are applied, Teff constituted the highest share at thousand hectares followed by wheat at thousand hectares. For details, refer to Summary Tables VI.1 and VI.2.

7 Inputs applied areas by region for private holdings in rural and urban areas of the country are presented in Summary Table VI.3. As can be seen from this table, the total cropland area under pesticides was the highest in Oromia Region at thousand hectares (77.8%). It is also observed that the percent of cropland areas under pesticides in S.N.N.P., Amhara and Tigray Region was 14.6, 5.9, and 1.1 percent, respectively. Moreover, of the total cropland area on which pesticides are applied, each of the remaining region in the country constituted less than one percent. 2.3 Cropland s on which Improved Seeds are used Improved seeds are defined as crop varieties that give significantly higher yield and better quality compared to locally produced varieties of seeds. As illustrated in Summary Table VI.1, the total cultivated cropland area at country level was estimated at 9,892.6 thousand hectares. Of this total, only thousand hectares (2.8%) was sown with improved variety of seeds. The share of rural and urban areas was found to be 95.4 percent and 4.6 percent of the total cropland areas on which improved seeds are used, respectively. Like other inputs, the private holdings in the rural areas of the country during Meher season had the highest share; while the contribution of the private holdings in urban areas to the total improved seeds applied cropland area in the country was limited in scale. Moreover, the share of Belg season to the total improved seed applied cropland area was 2.5% (For details, refer to Fig VI.1). Summary Table VI.1 also presents the total cropland area with application of improved agricultural practices and inputs by crop category for private holdings in rural and urban areas. The data in this table indicate that 90.9%, 2.1% and 4.9% of the total area under improved seeds was reported to be under cereals, pulses and stimulant crops, respectively. While, land area under other crops on which improved seeds are applied constitute the remaining 2.1 percent. In both the rural and urban areas of private holdings, land areas under cereals constituted the highest proportion of improved seeds as compared to other crops. Out of the total cropland area on which improved seeds are applied, maize constituted the highest share at thousand hectares followed by wheat at 21.7 thousand hectares and coffee at 13.7 thousand hectares.

8 As can be seen in Summary Table VI.3 at country level the total cropland area under improved seeds shows variation among the regions. Thus, Oromia Region (56.3%) and Amhara Region (31.0%) constituted the highest share from the total cropland area under improved seeds. It is also observed that the percent of cropland area under improved seeds in S.N.N.P., Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz Region was about 7.5, 2.6, 1.3 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the percent of improved seed applied cropland areas under each of the remaining region was less than one percent. 2.4 Cropland s Under Irrigation Irrigated cropland areas refer to the practice where an area of land is purposely and actually provided with water, other than the precipitation obtained from rain to improve the production of crops. The uncontrolled flooding of land by the overflow of rivers or streams is not considered to be as a practice of irrigation. The census data show that the cropland areas that are actually irrigated was only thousand hectares and this accounted for about 1.8% of the total cropland areas in the country. Of the total irrigated cropland areas, the share of the rural and urban areas was found to be 96.9% and 3.1%, respectively. Thus, there is large difference in the size of the total irrigated cropland area between rural and urban areas. Moreover, of the total irrigated cropland in rural areas, the Meher season constituted 56.2 percent compared to 40.7 percent for Belg season. As indicated in Summary Table VI.1, out of the total irrigated cropland areas in the country 53.3% were under cereals, 5.6% under pulses, 3.9% under vegetables, 16.5% under root crops, 3.7% under fruits, 12.6% under stimulant crops and 2.7% under other permanent crops. In both rural and urban areas of Ethiopia, the proportion of cereals, root crops and stimulant crops under irrigation were the highest as compared to other crops. With regard to specific crops, 54 thousand hectares for maize and 13 thousand hectares each for sorghum and Teff reported the largest areas of land under irrigation (For details, refer to Summary Tables VI.1 and VI.2). Moreover, the census data in Summary Table VI.3 indicate that in the country irrigated cropland area was relatively highest in Oromia Region (36.1%) and Amhara Region (32.2%) followed by S.N.N.P.R. (12.1%) and Tigray Region (10.8%). It is also observed that areas of land under irrigation practice were 5.0 and 1.8 percent for Afar

9 and Somali Region, respectively. On the other hand, the percent of irrigated cropland area under each of the remaining region was less than one percent SUMMARY TABLE VI.2: Under Agricultural Inputs and Irrigation Practices by Season and Regions in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings under Agricultural Inputs and Irrigation in Hectares Rural and Rural Items Urban % Meher Belg Both % Urban % National Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers Tigray Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers Afar Irrigation Imroved seeds * Pesticides * Fertilizers Amhara Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers Oromia Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers Somali Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides * Fertilizers Benishangul-Gumuz Irrigation Imroved seeds * Pesticides Fertilizers S.N.N.P.R Irrigation Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers Gambella Irrigation * * * * * * Imroved seeds Pesticides Fertilizers * * Harari Irrigation * Imroved seeds * Pesticides * * * Fertilizers Addis Ababa Irrigation * * * * Imroved seeds Pesticides * Fertilizers Dire Dawa Irrigation Imroved seeds * Pesticides * Fertilizers

10 SUMMARY TABLE VI.3: Total Under Improved Seed, Irrigation, Fertilizer, and Pesticide by Type of Crops in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings Total Crop Improved Seed Irrigation Fertilizer Pesticide TYPE OF CROP Hectares Hectares % Hectares % Hectares % Hectares % TOTAL Grain Crops Cereals Teff Barley Wheat Maize Sorghum Finger millet Oats ( Aja ) Rice * * Pulses Horse/Faba Field peas Haricot beans Chick peas Lentils Vetch/Grass Soya * * Fenugreek Gibto * * * * Oil Seeds Neug Linseed Ground nuts Sufflower Sesame Rapeseed Other Grains Vegetables Lettuce Head cabbage Kale Tomatoes Green peppers Red peppers Swiss chard Others Root Crops Beet root Carrot * * Onions Potatoes Garlic Taro Sweet potatoes Others Permanent Crops Fruit Crops Avocado Bananas Guava Lemons Mangoes Oranges Papayas Pineapples * * * * Others * * Stimulant Crops Chat Coffee Hops Others... * - - * * 16 * - - Other Permanent Enset Sugar Cane Others

11 3. HOLDERS APPLYING FERTILIZERS, AREA, AND QUANTITY OF FERTILIZERS APPLIED In 2001/02 Agricultural Sample Enumeration, the total number of holders applying fertilizers in Ethiopia is estimated to be about 7,589.5 thousands. Of these total private holders, 98.7% were in rural and 1.3% in urban areas. The application of fertilizers in Meher and Belg seasons for private holdings in rural areas shows a great variation, that is, 7,178.6 thousand holders applied fertilizers in Meher season while 2,499.0 thousand holders applied in Belg season (See Summary Tables VI.4 and VI.5). With regard to the type of fertilizers applied, the great majority of holders applied natural fertilizers (6,430.6 thousands). When we consider to the utilization of commercial fertilizers, the data shows that 2,046.4 thousand of the holders applied a mixture of DAP and UREA followed by DAP only ( thousands) and UREA only (340.6 thousands). The application of DAP, UREA and a mixture of DAP and UREA in Belg season was reported by 406.7, 34.6, and thousand holders, respectively. In urban areas for private holdings, a total of 47.7 thousand holders applied natural fertilizers and 68.2 thousand holders applied chemical fertilizers. Among the types of fertilizers used in the country, natural fertilizers was applied in larger cultivated cropland area, which is estimated to be 1,464.7 thousand hectares (that is, 38.4% of the fertilized cropland area). Next to natural fertilizers, a mixture of DAP and UREA, and DAP only also covered considerable amount of cropland area, which comprised 30% and 27.9% of the total fertilized cropland area, respectively. For details, refer to Fig VI.2 and Summary Table VI.4. Furthermore, the data in Summary Table VI.4 indicates that the total quantity of chemical fertilizers applied by holders in the rural areas of the country to be 2,278.5 thousand quintals, of which, the share of the DAP and UREA mixture was the highest accounting for 63.3 percent of the total quantity of chemical fertilizers applied. This is followed by the application of only DAP, accounting for about 34.2 percent (For details, refer to Fig VI.3 and Summary Table VI.4).

12 Total amount of fertilizers used in the country by region is presented in Summary Table VI.7. The data in the table shows that the highest quantity of chemical fertilizers application was reported in Oromia Region (53.9%) followed by Amhara Region (29.9%). Moreover, the application in Tigray and S.N.N.P. Region was 5.8 and 8.5 percent, respectively. On the other hand, quantity of chemical fertilizers applied under each of the remaining region was less than one percent. Fig Vi.2 Fertilizers Applied on Cropland by Type in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings DAP+UREA 30.00% Chemical* 1.38% Natural 38.36% UREA 2.32% DAP 27.94% * Cropland area under chemical fertilizers by percent of the total fertilized cropland is only for urban areas 3.1 Application of Natural Fertilizers in the Rural and Urban s According to the census findings, 6,430.6 thousand holders in rural and urban areas of Ethiopia applied natural fertilizers on thousand hectares of cropland (comprising 38.4% of the total fertilized cropland area). Of the total cropland area on which natural fertilizers are applied, the share of Meher and Belg seasons in rural areas of the country was 31.8 and 6.3 percent, respectively. Moreover, of the total land area on which natural fertilizers are applied, 62.0% was under cereals, 8.8% under pulses, and 2.2% under oilseeds, 7.6% under root crops, 5.5% under stimulant crops and 10.5% was under other permanent crops. For details, refer to Summary Table VI.4.

13 Fig.VI.3 Quantity of Fertilizers Applied by Type in Rural s, for Private Holdings. DAP 34.16% DAP+UREA 63 26% UREA 2.58% 3.2 Application of DAP in the Rural s As illustrated in Summary Table VI.4, 1,818.9 thousand holders in rural areas of the country have applied DAP on 1,066.6 thousand hectares, which is 27.9% of the total fertilized land area. The application of DAP varied markedly from one group of crops to another, i.e., 89.2% of the total DAP was applied for cereals, 5.6% for pulses and 3.2% for root crops. Variations with respect to specific crops are also considerable, i.e., relatively higher for Teff at thousand hectares and wheat at thousand hectares (For details, refer to Summary Tables VI.4 and VI.5). Furthermore, the total quantity of DAP applied in rural areas is estimated to be thousand quintals, which is 34.2% of the total quantity of chemical fertilizers applied. In general, the quantity of DAP applied was the highest for cereals which was thousand quintals followed by pulses and root crops that amounted to 39.2 and 36.0 thousand quintals, respectively. 3.3 Application of UREA in the Rural s There were thousand holders in rural areas of the country that applied UREA, and the cropland areas applied occupy 88.6 thousand hectares. This consists of only 2.3% of the total fertilizers applied. Out of the total area on which UREA was applied, it is reported that 83.5 % was under cereals, 2.8% under pulses, 1.4% under oil seeds, 4.8% under vegetables,

14 3.3% under root crops and 3.5% was under stimulant crops. These values indicate that UREA was applied in a high proportion of area under cereals relative to other group of crops. Among all crops, the largest UREA applied area was under Teff at 36.8 thousand hectares followed by maize and wheat at 11.4 and 10.9 thousand hectares, respectively. Moreover, the data in the table shows that the total quantity of UREA applied was about 58.7 thousand quintals in which the highest amount was applied for cereals at 47.1 thousand quintals (For details, refer to Summary Tables VI.4 and VI.5). 3.4 Application of a Mixture of DAP and UREA in the Rural s The census findings depicts the fact that quite significant number of holders in the country have applied a mixture of DAP and UREA on their crop fields. As presented in Summary Table VI.4, there were 2,046.4 thousand holders in rural areas who applied a mixture of DAP and UREA on 1,145.6 thousand hectares, and this accounts for 30.0% of the total area on which fertilizers were applied. The application of a mixture of DAP and UREA to cereals was on 1,093.9 thousand hectares (95.5%). It was observed that the application of a mixture of UREA and DAP is low in other crops relative to cereals. For instance, the application of a mixture of DAP and UREA for pulses and oilseeds were only 18.0 and 5.6 thousand hectares, respectively. In addition, out of the total quantity of chemical fertilizers applied, the amount of a mixture of DAP and UREA was thousand quintals, which is 63.3% of the total quantity of chemical fertilizers. The application of a mixture of DAP and UREA to cereals, pulses, vegetables and root crops amounted to about 1,384.7, 15.4, 16.1 and 20.8 thousand quintals, in that order. Of the total quantity of mixed chemical fertilizers applied, Teff, wheat and maize took the highest amount, i.e., 514.0, and quintals, respectively. For details, refer to Summary Tables VI.4 and VI.5.

15 SUMMARY TABLE VI.4: Number of Holders Applying Fertilizers, Under Fertilizers and Quantity of Fertilizers Applied by Type in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings Number of Holders Applying Fertilizer by Type Grains Root Permanent Crops Type of Fertilizer Total Cereals Pulses Oilseeds Others Vegetables Crops Fruits Stimulant Other Rural and Urban Percent Natural Chemical DAP UREA DAP &UREA Urban Percent Natural Chemical Rural Meher Percent Natural Chemical DAP UREA DAP &UREA Rural Belg Percent Natural Chemical DAP * UREA DAP &UREA in Hectares Rural and Urban Percent Natural Percent Chemical Percent DAP Percent UREA Percent DAP & UREA Percent Urban Percent Natural Percent Chemical Percent Note: Some of the holders operate both in Meher and Belg seasons as well as they apply fertilizers in different types of crops. As a result there are duplication of holders who apply fertilizers in both the seasons and also in the crops. Due to these duplications holders who applied fertilizer in rural and urban areas of the private holdings do not add up to the totals.

16 SUMMARY TABLE VI.4: CONTD. in Hectares Grains Root Permanent Crops Type of Fertilizer Total Cereals Pulses Oilseeds Others Vegetables Crops Fruits Stimulant Other Rural Meher Percent Natural Percent Chemical Percent DAP Percent UREA Percent DAP & UREA Percent Rural Belg Percent Natural Percent Chemical * * Percent * * DAP * * Percent * * UREA Percent DAP & UREA * Percent * Quantity in Quintals Total (Rural) Percent DAP Percent UREA Percent DAP & UREA Percent Rural Meher Percent DAP Percent UREA Percent DAP & UREA Percent Rural Belg * * Percent * * DAP * * Percent * * UREA * * Percent DAP & UREA * Percent *

17 SUMMARY TABLE VI.5: Number of Holders Applying Fertilizers, Fertilized, and Quantity of Fertilizers by Crop Type in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings Application of total Application of Fertilizers by Type and Quantity CROP Fertilizers Natural Chemical DAP Holders Hectares Holders Hectares Holders Hectares Quintals TOTAL Grain Crops Cereals Teff Barley Wheat Maize Sorghum Finger millet Oats ( Aja ) Rice Pulses Horse/Faba Field peas Haricot beans Chick peas Lentils Vetch/Grass Soya Fenugreek Gibto Oil Seeds Neug Linseed Ground nuts Sufflower Sesame Rapeseed Other Grains Vegetables Lettuce * * Head cabbage * * Kale Tomatoes Green peppers Red peppers Swiss chard * * Others Root Crops Beet root Carrot Onions Potatoes Garlic Taro ( Godere ) Sweet potatoes Others * 32 Permanent Crops Fruit Crops Avocado Bananas Guava (Zeytuna) Lemons * * Mangoes Oranges Papayas * 15 Pineapples Others Stimulant Crops Chat Coffee Hops Others Other Permanent Enset Sugar Cane Others

18 SUMMARY TABLE VI.5 Contd. Crop Application of Fertilizers by Type and Quantity UREA DAP and UREA Chemical (Urban) Holder Hectare Quintal Holder Hectare Quintal Holder Hectare TOTAL Grain Crops Cereals Teff Barley Wheat Maize Sorghum Finger millet Oats ( Aja ) Rice Pulses Horse/Faba beans Field peas Haricot beans Chick peas Lentils Vetch/Grass peas * Soya * * * * Fenugreek Gibto... * * * * * Oil Seeds Neug * Linseed Ground nuts Sufflower * * Sesame Rapeseed Other Grains Vegetables Lettuce * * Head cabbage Kale Tomatoes * Green peppers Red peppers Swiss chard * Others * * Root Crops Beet root * Carrot * Onions Potatoes Garlic Taro ( Godere ) * * * Sweet potatoes Others... * * * * 16 * Permanent Crops Fruit Crops Avocado * * Bananas * Guava (Zeytuna) * Lemons * * 18 * Mangoes Oranges * Papayas Pineapples * * Others Stimulant Crops Chat Coffee Hops Others Other Permanent Crops Enset Sugar Cane * Others *

19 4. HOLDERS UTILIZING IMPROVED SEEDS AND QUANTITY OF IMPROVED SEEDS USED In the 2001/02 Agricultural Sample Enumeration, data on number of holders that have used improved seeds and quantity of seeds used has been collected. Hence, data on the number of holders that have used improved variety seeds and quantity of improved cereals, pulses and oil seeds in Ethiopia are presented in Summary Table VI Number of Holders using Improved Seeds. As portrayed in Summary Table VI.6 the use of improved seeds is limited to only thousand holders in rural and urban areas of the country. Of the total holders using improved seeds, 67.1% used improved maize seed, 13.2% used improved coffee seeds, 7.8% used improved wheat seeds, 2.6% each used improved barley and sorghum seeds, 2.2% used improved haricot bean seeds and 3.9% used improved variety of Teff seeds. The utilization of improved seeds for all other types of crops is very low (most of them are less than 1%). 4.2 Quantity of Improved Seeds Used Information on quantity of improved varieties of seeds is limited to grain crops only. As can be seen from Summary Table VI.6, the total quantity of improved seeds was estimated to be thousand quintals in rural areas. Of this total amount the share of Meher and Belg season was found to be 89 and 11 percent, respectively. Considering the total quantity of improved seeds utilized, about 59.0% accounted for maize, 28.8% for wheat, 3.5% for Teff, 2.9% for barley and 3.1% for haricot beans. In the case of oil seeds, the quantity of improved seeds used was insignificant. Details are given in Summary Table VI.6. The data on quantity of improved seeds used by region at country level is presented in Summary Table VI.7. Thus, the data in the table shows that the highest amount of improved seeds used was observed in Oromia Region (52.6%) followed by Amhara Region (25.4%). Moreover, the quantity of improved seeds used in S.N.N.P, and Tigray Region was 13.9 and 6.3 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the quantity of improved seeds used for the remaining regions were only 1.8%.

20 SUMMARY TABLE VI.6: Number of Holders Utilizing Improved Seeds and Quantity of Improved Seeds Applied by Crop Type in Rural and Urban s, for Private Holdings Holders Applying Improved Seeds Quantity in Quintals Total % Rural Urban Rural % Meher Belg Type of Crop Meher Belg Meher Total Grain Crops Cereals Teff Barley Wheat Maize Sorghum Finger millet * * Oats ( Aja ) * * 31 * Rice * Pulses * Horse/Faba beans * Field peas * * Haricot beans * Chick peas Lentils * * Vetch/Grass peas * * Soya Fenugreek * * * * Oil Seeds * Neug Linseed * * Ground nuts * 23 * * * * Sufflower * - * * * * Sesame * 18 * * * * Rapeseed * * * * * * Other Grains * * * * Vegetables Lettuce Head cabbage Kale Tomatoes Green peppers Red peppers Swiss chard Others * * Root Crops Beet root Carrot Onions Potatoes Garlic Taro ( Godere ) * Sweet potatoes Others * Permanent crops Fruit Crops Avocado Bananas Guava (Zeytuna) Lemons Mangoes Oranges Papayas Pineapples... * * * - * Others Stimulant Crops Chat Coffee Other Permanent Crops

21 Summary Table VI.7 Quantity of Chemical Fertilizers Applied and Improved Seeds Used by Region and Season in Rural s, for Private Holdings Quantity in Quintals Data Items Total Percent Meher Belg Quantity of Fertilizers National Tigray Afar Amhara Oromia Somali * Benishangul-Gumuz S.N.N.P.R Gambella Harari * Addis Ababa Dire Dawa * Quantity of Improved Seeds National Tigray Afar * * * * Amhara * Oromia Somali * Benishangul-Gumuz * S.N.N.P.R Gambella * Harari Addis Ababa Dire Dawa * 5. FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF HOLDERS This section of the chapter presents data on educational attainment of holders in relation to their farm management practices. At the time of the enumeration, all holders in the sampled households in the country were asked to state their educational attainment. As presented in Summary Table VI.8 data on literacy status and highest grade completed for literate holders were collected. The census findings indicate that the level of educational attainment of the holders in Ethiopia is very low and this may have a direct impact on the level of awareness of the holders with respect to improved farming activities and is a typical characteristic of peasant community in developing countries. According to the census data, a large number of holders (65.1% in rural and 41.2 % in urban areas) were found to be illiterate, while 13.7% in rural and 11.4% in urban areas reported to have participated in informal education. Moreover, the data shows that 16.7% of the holders in rural and 23.8% of holders in urban areas have completed grades 1 to 6 and only 4.5% of the holders in rural and 21.5 % in